Briefly: We’ve reported a bit over the past couple weeks on the search for an actress to play the character Johanna Mason in the sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire. Director Francis Lawrence was said to have auditioned Jena Malone and Zoe Aggeliki in the past week and a half, and that the process led to Aggeliki being in advanced talks to play the axe-wielding District 17 Hunger Games champ.

Turns out that report, which led to many (including us) assuming that Aggeliki basically had the job, was a bit premature. THR says that Jena Malone got the offer to tplay the part, and is in talks now. Our own Angie Han was taken with the idea of Malone playing the role, rather than anyone else, noting that she has the “mix of steeliness and vulnerability that Johanna requires.” Since the role will carry over to the third film in the series, we’ll hope that Francis Lawrence has indeed chosen well.

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One of the big new characters in the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire is Johanna Mason, and for the past few weeks we’ve seen quite a list of actresses who have been considered for the role. Huge Hunger Games fan Kristen Bell wanted the gig, but actresses like Mia Wasikowska, Jena Malone, and model/actress Zoe Aggeliki were the ones who seemed to have the best chance of getting the job.

As the start date for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire nears, talk of casting is heating up. We’ve already seen several (disproven) rumors surrounding fan favorite character Finnick Odair, and Philip Seymour Hoffman got offered the part of Plutarch Heavensbee before speculation about that role even really got a chance to pick up steam. Today the focus is on the character Johanna Mason, another key figure who makes her first appearance in the sequel.

Director Francis Lawrence has been looking at both big names and unknowns for the part, as evidenced by the two first actresses named as possibilities for the role. According to a new report, Mia Wasikowska and model-turned-actress Zoe Aggeliki are in the mix to play Johanna. Read more after the jump.